Penelope Cruz facts

Penélope once volunteered at Mother Teresa's children's sanctuary in Calcutta, later donating her entire wages from Hi-Lo Country to the project.

She can speak four languages: English, French, Italian, and Spanish.

She even hooks up with Scarlett Johansson in Vicky Cristina Barcelona.

Penélope has an 883 tattoo just above her right ankle.

Why we love Penelope Cruz

Miss Cruz is not afraid of her body – or meat, apparently. Her first serious role was in the bizarrely titled Spanish drama Jamón, Jamón (literally Ham, Ham), where the 18-year-old Penélope happily bore all in an erotic ‘love scene’ in a meat-curing factory. Honestly, Google it.

Since then she and her disarmingly pert breasts have run riot across Hollywood, appearing in 2001’s Vanilla Sky, Captain Corelli’s Mandolin and many, many others. Anytime directors need a foxy Hispanic woman, she’s your gal.

Her performance in Pedro Adolmovar’s Volver in 2006 won her an Oscar nomination for Best Actress – the first time a Spanish woman has ever been nominated. She also won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress in 2008 for her role in Vicky Cristina Barcelona. On the downside, she’s one of a depressingly long list of gorgeous women to once have dated the world’s favorite alien-worshipper, Tom Cruise. Damn you Maverick, damn you.